Sunderland hosts People's Powerhouse event focused on priorities of the North

From left The People's Powerhouse Edna Robinson, Sunderland City Council Coun Graeme Miller, Sunderland City Council CEO Patrick Melia and Dr Kate Fox.

The People’s Powerhouse held a convention at the Beacon of Light on Tuesday, November 19, focusing on how the North can build influence and enable people to have a say in the region’s priorities.

Tracy Fishwick, People’s Powerhouse Director, said it could not have happened at a better time, following the recent Manifesto for the North launch.

Produced by the Convention of the North and NP11 - a group of all 11 Northern Local Enterprise Partnerships - the manifesto aims to drive change for the region across a number of policies.

The People's Powerhouse movement event at Beacon of Light.

She added: “We need to show how the North can build influence from the bottom up and how people get to have a say in what the priorities of the North should be.”

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council and Patrick Melia, the local authority’s chief executive, were among those in attendance.

Poet Kate Fox hosted the day. Speakers included Powerhouse Chairman Edna Robinson, former chief crown prosecutor Nazir Afzal, and Extinction Rebellion.

Speaking prior to the event, Coun Miller said: “We have and are creating a more dynamic, healthy and vibrant city. We are also a diverse city.

Dr Kate Fox, Sunderland City Council CEO Patrick Melia, The People's Powerhouse Edna Robinson and Sunderland City Council Coun Graeme Miller (right).

“I welcome The People’s Powerhouse to Sunderland as we highlight how important the North East and all its communities are for the prosperity of the North and UK plc.”

Ideas discussed included a community bank for the North East, a People’s Plan for the region and a universal basic income.